Phoenix no. 33 1/3

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:26 pm

sorry, good guess.

okay, the lightest solid in the world is a nasa composition called aerogel which can support 2000 times its own weight. it is a phenomenal invention and feels like hard platic foam. anyway i digress,

what is aerogel's main commercial function?

darcle · Post by **darcle** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:31 pm

Is it similar to "hard as nails"?

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:34 pm

dunno what hard as nails is but here is a pic of some 2.38g of aerogel supporting 2500g of brick.

the answer is not directly related to structural strength though.

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:05 pm

Aeroplanes?

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:12 pm

you need to either go much higher than aeroplanes or a little lower. one answer is to do with its relatively massive surface area and the other is about inertia and conductivity

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:35 pm

Is it used in Space Shuttles ? for erm... space shuttley things which are too complex to discuss here.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:27 pm

it is used in exploratory shuttles, yes. a fan of the stuff is deployed but to what goal?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:30 pm

Create a vacuum?

Create an anti-vacuum?

Create a diversionary sphere of flexible permolank to augment the auxiliary fusemontage?

Sorry. I really don't know.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:37 pm

given the lack of much stuff in space it is deployed over a mahoosive area to collect space debris. it is also used on earth as an insulation in scientific double glazing.

sorry; not really a guessable question.

do you have one lined up CR? anyone else?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:41 pm

Ah. Thanks for putting me out of my misery.

A quick check of the "users online" revealed that we are the only two stalwaets. Ergo, I'll ask the question...

"Jumping the shark" is an American term normally applied to TV shows, but what does it mean?

And an extra special Cardinal Point if you tell me where the term was derived from.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:46 pm

©ardinal ®ichelieu™ wrote:
And an extra special Cardinal Point

jumping the shark? never heard of it could it be something like a politician avoiding a potentially difficult question by giving evasive answers?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:49 pm

Nope. It refers specifically to TV shows. Perhaps I could better illustrate with a couple of examples of British TV shows that have "jumped the shark"...namely Last of the Summer Wine and Keeping Up Apperances

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:52 pm

coffin-dodgers?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:59 pm

Nope.

Examples of TV shows that didn't "jump the shark" include Fawlty Towers and Father Ted.

darcle · Post by **darcle** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:01 pm

Moved to a different channel?